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Former Lt. Gov. Loren Leman and others told you to vote for amending Alaska's Constitution, to overturn an Alaska Supreme Court decision that said that equal protection requires benefits for same-sex partners of state employees. They say the Alaska Supreme Court is a danger to democracy.

Not according to the late William Rehnquist, appointed chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by President Richard Nixon. In his book "The Supreme Court: How it Was, How It Is," Rehnquist said the genius of our founding fathers was to develop a three-part system of government (like Alaska's) with an executive, legislative and judicial branch. Each branch is equally powerful, with judges independent of the president and Congress. The framers intended that the Supreme Court be the only branch of government that was anti-majoritarian -- whose duty was not to respond to the will of the people, but to uphold claims of individual rights based on the Constitution.

It is the proposed constitutional amendment that is a danger to democracy. It would not only overturn the Supreme Court's decision, it would forbid municipal governments from giving same-sex partner benefits, as Juneau does now. That would defeat local control and set a dangerous precedent in other areas, like zoning, land use and taxation.

Once again our wise government has succeeded in dividing its community using the smoking issue as a guise to interfere in the operations of business owners. What's next? If you weigh too much, you'll only be served salads in public, because the government says getting fat will kill you? How about perfumes that irritate others? Or banning children from restaurants because their noise makes others have upset stomachs?

No one complains that there is no competition with Enstar. We are happy in our cold homes and sit quietly while government explores lane changes to destroy businesses along Spenard Road.

Our Last Frontier doesn't have enough bars and restaurants for smokers and nonsmokers? Let the owners have the right to diversify as they wish in their own business.

And finally, what about private clubs like the Veterans of Foreign Wars? Soldiers were given cigarettes by the government when they were young and the country needed them to fight and die for our freedoms. If they smoke we don't want them in our restaurants or bars.

America, a country for all of us, now belongs to people like Assemblyman Dan Coffey who doesn't know the meaning of diversity, only his zest for control. God help us when our men and women are fighting for the freedoms we just throw away.

Thirty-seven members of the medical staff at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau are opposed to current statewide efforts to remove health and survivorship benefits from same-gender couples. This is a health issue. We do not want the health of our Alaska families harmed by such an action.

Our patients have better access to treatment and prevention of diseases if they are insured. Taking away employment benefits from public employees serves no one. The loss of health insurance will cause financial harm to our patients and their families. It is unfair for the state or any municipality to single out this group and deny them equal pay for equal work.

Along with the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Alaska Academy of Family Physicians, we oppose any legislation that excludes health benefits for families headed by same-gender couples. And this discrimination should certainly not be written into our Alaska Constitution.

Cry foul! A stealth plan to run Bragaw through the UAA campus has been buried by Assemblymen Dan Coffey and Dick Traini in the road bonds (Proposition 6) and the municipality's request for legislative funding. The political statements they are making reveal that this is intended to be a self-fulfilling justification to ram through the road.

Every local politician knows running Bragaw through UAA is an extremely controversial matter. This is a gross insult to both our small university campus and the future of higher education in Anchorage. Attempting to sneak it through the public process acknowledges the controversy.

Responsible people have addressed this issue, and its severe impacts, many times in prior years. In every instance, these special-interest proposals have been based in a push for short-term gain, in total disregard of the greater, long-term good of the community.

It is apparent that Coffey and Traini have no understanding of how difficult it has been to bring higher education to Anchorage over the years. Neither of them has been involved in the ongoing struggle to build higher education in this community. Ready access to a higher education is crucially important to Alaskans.

Many here do understand the value of higher education. Thank you to the Daily News for the March 28 public expose ("Study of Bragaw cut-through is tucked into bonds"). This has just become a very big deal.

Jim Bailey says in his campaign brochure that "he has the time and the experience to work effectively" in the Anchorage Assembly, and that is a true statement. Bailey has worked for years in the West Anchorage area and is keenly aware of the problems, concerns and desires of that community. He is a retired educator, so he has time to give to the Assembly and the community, and that community's good fortune is that Bailey is willing to do just that.

All too often people who run for public office have no clue regarding the needs of their constituency; Bailey is not only a hard worker, he is a knowledgeable worker. He listens well and has the ability to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. Jim Bailey will represent West Anchorage and Sand Lake with dedication and leadership expertise.

"Vote no bonds." That's what the sign read. I've seen a couple of these signs along Tudor Road. I imagine others are posted throughout town. Whoever has this philosophy would want to spread it further than just a couple of signs would.

What is the profile of someone who condemns all bonds? Is this person so old that they never use the parks and/or have their education and do not care if younger citizens get theirs? But wouldn't an older person want improved ambulance services? These and other bond issues are scheduled for Tuesday's ballot.

Someone who will not part with their money has been referred to as a tightwad or tightfisted. The common word in these old pejoratives is tight. What a sad state of being. Tight, not open. Folded in on oneself. How sad.

We expect a lot from our schools in Anchorage: educate all children to ensure our future. But are we willing to pay for the building and maintenance of schools to support this mission?

On Tuesday it's Clark Middle Schools's turn. The facility is beyond help, expensive to maintain and has not been meeting needs for some time. It is the most critical need in the district. Passing Propositions 4 and 5 will give a confidence to our learning community, that Anchorage is willing to stand behind them by providing a means to succeed in the face of today's rising academic expectations.

As a member of the equestrian community, I have concerns about Proposition 8's generalities. It is nice that letters, the editorial page and Compass help fill in the blanks, but those blanks should not be there. Proposition 8 is too broad, too general and may result in unintended consequences.

Finally, I would like to note that I support the use of this land for all equestrian purposes, as initially intended. I am bringing my concerns about Proposition 8 to the people's attention because I think it is important that the voters considering this proposition should have all of the pertinent information on the proposed lease. Given Proposition 8's current language, I think there is a huge potential for voters to be misled as to the purpose, duration and scope of the proposed lease.

The smoking ban is just feel-good legislation. If the Assembly really wanted to help employees of bars, bingo halls, etc., it would push for a state health care program.

As a nonsmoking bartender, access to affordable medical care for all types of illness is a bigger worry than the possible threat of one type of cancer.

I realize the Anchorage Assembly can't solve this country's health care crisis, but if they want to play nanny state on behalf of the people it would be nice if they acknowledged the larger problem, which is no insurance.

As a fiscal conservative, this is an unusual letter for me to write. However it is important that Anchorage has sound schools for her students. Clark Middle School is in dire need of replacement. Students should not have to attend classes in a building that is literally falling apart around them. While the cost of the bond may slightly affect our taxes, all Anchorage children are worth it. It is important to remember two things. First, the students of Clark are not responsible for the state of their school, nor do they get a choice to go elsewhere; and, second, the voters of Anchorage voted to improve or replace the school in your neighborhood, now you can vote to give the students of Clark a decent school. Please vote for Proposition 4.

This is in response to the March 26 letter by Jeanne McQueary expressing that passing Proposition 6 road bonds would be a huge waste of tax dollars. The bond proposition includes the Strawberry Road improvement project. Since 2004, I have served on the Strawberry Road Design Review Committee. This committee has worked with the Municipality, engineers and local residents to balance safety, community and environmental goals. The project has addressed the needs of multiple user groups and will be a major safety upgrade. Many feel it provides a model for future projects.

McQueary is an active committee member of the Anchorage Road Coalition, which is campaigning against this project and similar projects around Anchorage. The coalition has suggested many changes to the Strawberry Road project, and most have been adopted, adding to the overall expense. Now they complain that the bond proposition is a waste of tax dollars.

The Sand Lake area needs this project. It has been carefully considered from a variety of viewpoints. A municipal survey of area residents indicated that more than 63 percent want the project to proceed.

Those who say the upcoming advisory vote on homosexual partner benefits is not about marriage are being dishonest. The benefits being mandated by the courts are marriage benefits. Up to now, they have only been given to married couples. The courts are making us recognize homosexual relationships as being like marriage. Well, the courts are wrong, and I hope that the voters set them straight by voting yes on Tuesday.

I received a postcard demanding I vote yes on the advisory vote in order to save my marriage. I have been married to the same (male) person for more than 25 years. I cannot see how my union will be affected by allowing people the right to choose who to add to their health insurance policy. How anyone can be so selfish and judgmental to not allow everyone to choose who to add to their health coverage for our fellow Alaskans? What are they afraid of and why?

I urge Anchorage citizens to vote yes for the school district bonds on Tuesday, especially the bond to rebuild Clark Middle School. This bond not only strengthens the unity in our wonderful community, but also levels the playing field of opportunity for Anchorage's most diverse population.

The 60 percent reimbursement from the state should entice fiscally cautious folks like my friend Charlie who still has his first nickel and likens spending money to dental surgery.

Everyone has the right to breathe clean air at work. This means air that does not contain cancer-causing toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, cyanide and arsenic.

Eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke, which kills tens of thousands of nonsmokers annually from lung cancer and heart disease, is a critical part of the effort to prevent needless tobacco-caused deaths.

Last June, the U.S. surgeon general released the report, "The Health Harms of Involuntary Exposure to Secondhand Smoke." The report substantiates that "workers and nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke inhale the same toxins and cancer-causing substances as smokers. ... Breathing secondhand smoke for even a short time can damage cells and set the cancer process in motion."

The smoke-free workplace ordinance adopted by the Anchorage Assembly last summer protects the right to breathe air free from cancer-causing chemicals and should not be repealed. On Tuesday, vote no on lung cancer and heart disease. Vote no on Proposition 1.

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